Prologue

In a series of darkness, there is nothing but nothingness. What do I expect? A faint light? A hope?

Still, I continue to run. Until I spot some things. There is no less than one light I am nearing at. Beneath those lights are four doors, each with a particular color. And yet, as I round them, there is nothing else but just doors. Ridiculous! What is this place? Why am I here? Is this a dream? Well, if it is, I need to wake up soon!

My body becomes cold. Ah, I am familiar with this setting. The place that's void of time and actual space. No other things but lights and doors. The Kapalaran.

From the hearsays, the Kapalaran is shown to almost anybody through dreams. The doors symbolize a particular path one takes. It tests not just your decisiveness, as you are to choose only once, but also your luck. Some say it suggests which element you specialize in, so you have to be careful.

But I have always seen it differently. As the rumors flood over me, it just sets the anger in me ablaze. No door shall ever foretell my fate! I am not dumb to just believe in a random rumor. Besides, they are just nothing but empty gossips. Nothing but superstitions.

They are right about one thing, though. It's a dream and eventually I will see the morning light after I open my eyes. So, I resume running hoping that as tiredness envelops me, I shall soon wake up to meet my mother's eyes.

At last, a light! I see the light. I run towards it, and to my letdown, I wind up here. In front of the four doors. Again.

"Are you kidding me?!"

My voice resounds the void as it screams back no replies. To my frustration, I sit in front of one of the doors as the happenings start to wear me out.

"Who are you?! Why are you doing this?! I refuse to open a door! This is all but a laughingstock. THIS KAPALARAN IS NONSENSE!" I scream.

In a blink of an eye, the doors and the lights are nowhere to be found. I jump in confusion.

'This is just a dream.' I try to convince myself. 'Nothing bad can happen to me.' But the words I use to calm myself cannot deny the fear that's starting to creep in my chest. And again, my feet move on its own.

Where am I off to again? I don't know. What am I running from? I don't know. To what direction am I headed? I don't know. What should I do? I DON'T KNOW!

A flash of lightning makes things clear. The anitus. They are arriving. In the Kapalaran.

"MORTAL, YOU DARE ANGER US WHEN WE ARE THE ONES DOING YOU A FAVOR. FOOLISH BEING! UNGRATEFUL! YOU ARE THE FIRST TO HAVE REFUSED TO OPEN A DOOR, AND BY THAT ACTION, YOU ARE TO REPENT IT BY A CURSE!"

Another Anitu starts chanting something but I can't move a muscle to run away from here!

"By consuming me, I will, in turn, consume you

What's inside reflects where you run off to.

The light shall no longer guide

A taker's footing who shan't abide.

Passed or not, it is convened

The visit is feigned.

As empty as the void,

This shan't be yours!"

And I anger the anitus.